According to the feds, Jaguar will be calling back 6,475 2010 – 2011 XJ sedans due to defective windscreen wipers, which could detach from the car.

"The front wiper arms to spindle fixings were not torqued to specification during manufacturing," said NHTSA. "As a result, the securing nuts could fail to perform as intended, resulting in a loss of wiper arm synchronization and a clash of the wiper arms. If the wiper arms lose synchronization and clash, they could detach from the vehicle, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash."

Friday, 26 November 2010

Saab is looking too built up excitement by offering 9-4X customers a free iPad if they place an order before the end of February 2011.

The customer is required to put down a $500 non-refundable deposit in order to get hold of the iPad. If buyers decide to cancel their order, they will effectively be buying a 16GB Wi-Fi iPad for same price Apple charges, however, Saab predicts that most reservations will end in vehicle deliveries.

The end of the year is normally a slow phase for international car companies, but not for Mercedes and BMW. The German brands are facing growing demand and has forced the brands to postpone their holiday shutdowns.

Last year saw Mercedes and BMW shut up shop for three weeks, however, that won’t happen this year. The executive car market has bounced back drastically, leaving ample orders to fill.

As part of Oprah's Ultimate Favourite Things giveaway, the multi-millionaire is giving every member of her audience a forthcoming 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, including taxes. The last time Oprah gave away car – she gave her audience Pontiac G6's – some had complexity accepting the gift because of the taxes they owed.

This promotion is sees Oprah giving her audience members lavish and pricey surprise gifts of all kinds of things.

The 2011 Patriot receives modified trim levels and a new diesel engine. The 2.2 CRD diesel engine is taken from Mercedes, replacing the previous Volkswagen-sourced 2.0 TDI 138bhp. The new 2.2 CRD has a 23bhp increase.

Wednesday, 24 November 2010

Audi has taken the wraps off what will be the UK’s most powerful production hot-hatch, the RS3.

The RS3 will be powered by a 5-cylinder, 2.5 litre turbocharged petrol engine, developing 335bhp (340PS) and 450Nm (332lb-ft) of torque from a diesel-like 1,600rpm. For those who are seeking driving engagement will be disappointed, since the RS3 is only available with a 7 speed S-tronic dual-clutch semi-automatic transmission, although the RS3 will be fitted with a Quattro 4WD system.

Tuesday, 23 November 2010

Maserati is looking to take on the Porsche Cayenne with a new large SUV, Fiat and Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne has revealed. It would be a performance orientated SUV that may use Ferrari-produced V8 engines.

Harald Wester, Maserati’s chief executive, said Alfa Romeo will borrow the Jeep Grand Cherokee underpinnings as the foundation for an upscale SUV, rivalling the BMW X5, Audi Q7, Mercedes M-Class/GL-Class, and the Volvo XC90. The SUV would join an inexpensive compact SUV and the 159’s descendant in 2013.

These seem to be the first ever spy photos of the next Citroën C1. The prototype in these grainy images is thought to have been snapped on a mobile phone in a customer clinic.

Citroën is currently experimenting with the C1’s design, but judging by these pictures the next C1, it will be more daring and bold, compared to the current model. This is most obvious when the c-pillar blends into the roof-mounted rear spoiler.

Swedish car maker, Saab, is set to trim 200 of its temporary employees (1/8th of its current staff), according to a union official.

Hakan Skott, union spokesperson at Saab, said that the action was likely after Saab’s new owner, Dutch supercar maker Spyker, cut its sales target from 60,000 units in February, to 45,000 in summer and ultimately to just 30,000 cars at end of October.

Top of Mazda’s agenda is interior quality. According to Peter Birtwhistle, chief designer at Mazda’s R&D centre, the Japanese car company would like to change the perceived quality of their car interiors as the recently launched Mazda2 was slated for its interior appearance.

“If you sit in a Volkswagen Polo you get a really good sense of quality,” he said.

Monday, 22 November 2010

Kia Motors Corporation held the world premiere of its all-new Optima Hybrid sedan at the Los Angeles motor show. Created primarily with the U.S market in mind, the latest model in Kia’s design-led transformation employs a truly innovative Kia-developed powertrain that promises to deliver exceptional hybrid performance and 48mpg for class-leading fuel economy.

Arriving in U.S Kia dealer showrooms early next year, the Optima Hybrid is the brand’s first-ever hybrid for North America and uses a ‘full parallel hybrid system’ to deliver a unique blend of performance – acceleration to 62mph in 9.2 seconds, top speed 121mph – and economy, achieving a 40.7% mpg improvement compared with a regular Optima.

Sunday, 21 November 2010

Thanks to CAFE obligations with their ever- stringent emissions and fuel economy legislation's, Ford has a problem trying to reach the 30mpg by 2016 with its F-150 pick-up.

In a bid to improve fuel economy, Ford is brain-storming ideas as to what materials should be used in/on the next F-150. This includes a partial unibody structure, aluminium and magnesium. With all these combined, Ford has the potential of achieving 20% better highway mpg than Ford’s all-new 2011 engine line-up.

In the USA it is the most successful car of any European producer: the Volkswagen Jetta. Between the East and West coasts of America, up to 110,000 vehicles of this model series are sold annually. Americans value the VW Jetta as a highly safe and sporty saloon with "German Engineering."

In June, Volkswagen unveiled - in an event receiving international attention with stars like Katy Perry at the centre of New York's Times Square - a completely new generation of the world bestseller with over 9.6 million units built so far. Now, the most impressive Volkswagen Jetta ever is also launching in Europe. This heralds a new era for this model series between Helsinki and Rome, Istanbul and Lisbon. The latest version of "the" saloon of the compact class is expected to carry over its US success to Europe.

Saturday, 20 November 2010

First they cause problems for car manufactures that manage factories on the U.S/Mexico border, but now Ford is facing another huge problem, which is out of its control or any logical control when you think about it. Who are we talking about? Mexico’s drug cartels.

Sales of the F-150, Lobo in Meheeco, have plummeted because of the image connected with drug cartels. Cartel hitmen like the F-150 above any other pick-up truck, however, Mexico’s pick-up market is suffering as a whole.

Jeep is recalling 16,229 ‘08 Liberty’s as they could have malfunctioning windscreen wipers.

"The vehicles are equipped with windshield wiper motors that contain excessive adhesive that may allow for water intrusion, which could result in intermittent and eventually inoperative windshield wiper operation".

Kia has announced prices of the brand new Optima mid-sized sedan. The entry-level LX starts from $19,690* with a 2.4 litre, 200bhp 4-cylinder petrol engine, mated to a 6 speed manual.

Three trim-levels, LX, EX & SX, will be available, alongside two transmissions and two petrol engines; 2.4 litre with 200bhp and a 2.0T GDI with 274bhp. The latter will be able to do 34mpg on the highway.

This is the U.S spec Hyundai Elantra which debuted at the LA motor show this week. Unlike the KDM Avante, the American variant is powered by a Nu, 4-cylinder 1.8 litre petrol engine, replacing the 2.0 litre Beta.

The 1.8 kicks out 148bhp and produces 186Nm (138ft-lbs) of torque. The engine is mated to either a 6 speed manual or 6 speed automatic and returns 40mpg on the motorway. In the city, 29mpg is achievable. In some states, the Elantra will have 145bhp and 176Nm (130 lb-ft) of torque, earning the classified PZEVs (Partial Zero Emission Vehicles) badge.

GM is going to recall 13,780 2010, 2011 Buick Lucernes and Cadillac DTS’ with V8 engines due to leaking power steering fluid, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“The starter or alternator cable is in contact with the power steering return line," noted NHTSA. "If either the starter or alternator cable is contacting the power steering return line, the cable could wear through the line, causing a power steering fluid leak. A power steering leak could result in a loss of power steering, increasing the risk of a crash and/or the leak onto hot engine parts could cause an engine compartment fire."

Fiat is working hard on bring a sports coupe to the market by 2012. The sports car, dubbed Primo is being co-developed with Fiat’s sporty sibling, Abarth and will compete against the Mazda MX-5/Miata.

While the sports car will be all-new, its size and transverse, mid-engined design will be similar to the Lotus Elise. The interior is also thought to use the same outline as the Elise; a fixed rear window with a simple, lift-out roof panel.

Citroën's new C4 hatchback will start from £15,595 when it goes on sale in January 2011. That sticker price will get you a 1.4 litre VTi 95bhp VTR, which emits 140g/km. The range-topping Exclusive 2.0 HDi 150bhp starts at £21,495.

Unlike the previous model, the new C4 is only available in 5dr and comes with a choice of seven engines; three petrol’s and four diesel engines.

Honda is reportedly axing the Civic sedan as soon as current stock runs out in Japan. The decision is supposedly based upon Japanese demand for MPV’s and smaller cars, however, the Civic will continue for international markets.

Honda only sold a measly 452 Civic’s last month, showing the Civic can’t stay afloat sales-wise in Japan.

Wednesday, 17 November 2010

Mazda has modified its 1.6 litre diesel engine, which is offered in the 3 compact family car. The engine is now Euro5 compliant offers better fuel economy and lower emissions and is more powerful than the outgoing unit. The 1.6D now has 115bhp, compared to 109bhp over the previous engine.

The revised 3 will now cover 64.2mpg (4.4l/100km) and emit just 117g/km. Torque is increased by 30Nm (22lb-ft), to 270Nm (199lb-ft). For the first time, a 6 speed manual transmission is available.

Chrysler has announced prices on the Sebring-replacement. The entry-level LX will start from $19,995 including $750 destination fee, rising to $24,495 for the range-topping 200 Limited. Later on, an ‘S’ trim-level will be added.

Essentially a facelifted Sebring, the 200 gets reworked front and rear fascias, interior and prices. Inside the 200, owners will be treated to soft-touch materials, instead of the hard, unwanted plastics of the Sebring.

Vauxhall/Opel is creating two sub-compact cars that will join the forthcoming Corsa by 2015.

The first supermini is pitched as a Mini rival and within is considered ‘fun and fashion’. This will sit above the Corsa but below the Astra in the European line-up. The second car is a budget vehicle based on an entirely different platform. This may effectively replace the current Agila in Vauxhall/Opel’s Euro line-up.

Monday, 15 November 2010

Volkswagen has rejected the idea of utilising 2-cylinder engines in its forthcoming city-car.

Volkswagen has been the head of down-sizing engines with its 3-cylinder petrol and diesel units. Ulrich Hackenberg, R&D chief executive, thinks downsizing is now on the verge of its limits, despite Fiat’s new 2-cylinder TwinAir engine.

Sunday, 14 November 2010

Opel has released prices for the Ampera plug-in EV, which starts at €42,900 (£36,000/$51,000) when it goes on sale in Winter 2011. That’s considerably more than the Chevrolet Volt which starts from $41,000 in the U.S.

While that certainly sounds expensive, German prices start at €36,050, which indicates overall prices will be bespoke to each European country. Though, Vauxhall persist that it would "announce its own price" for the Ampera before the end of this year, a sign that British buyers could pay less, even before the UK Government's £5,000 eco-vehicle grant is taken into consideration.

Volvo CEO, Stefan Jacoby, has responded to Geely’s CEO, Li Shufu for wanting a large executive sedan in the Volvo line-up, saying it is “too early” for Volvo to be designing a BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class rival.

Shufu obtained Volvo from Ford earlier this year. Shufu would like to see Volvo create more “high-level cars that compete with the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series”.